Fantasy game system and method for player selection and scoring

ABSTRACT

A first list of available players is provided to each individual user who then selects a first fantasy lineup, where selections by another individual user does not preclude other individual users from also selecting the same player. First fantasy lineups are received from each individual user, the fantasy lineups comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players. Each individual user may provide a replacement lineup prior to the end of a game. A subsequent list of available players is provided to each user and does not include players from the first fantasy lineup. Subsequent fantasy lineups from each individual user are received comprising only players selected from the subsequent list of available players. None of the players of the first fantasy lineup for an individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/892,355 filed May 13, 2013 and entitled “Fantasy Game System and Method for Player Selection and Scoring”, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/965,578 filed Dec. 10, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,078 and entitled “Fantasy Game System and Method for Player Selection and Scoring”. All of the foregoing patent applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This application relates generally to fantasy sports games. More specifically, this application relates generally to fantasy sports games and methods whereby the fantasy game is playable over the course of a predetermined finite period such as a real-life season, playoff or tournament.

SUMMARY

Fantasy sports, and fantasy football in particular, has blossomed into a multibillion dollar industry. Fantasy sports games typically involve creating a league of friends, family and/or acquaintances where each person acts as a “general manager” of a respective fantasy team. Each fantasy team is populated with several fantasy players where each fantasy player corresponds to an individual, real-life athlete participating in a real-life sports game or event. The statistics generated by the real-life sports players are converted to fantasy points whereby the points are assigned to the fantasy team(s) owning each particular player. These fantasy points may then be used to calculate team scores for each fantasy team. In most instances, the team with the most fantasy points wins the fantasy contest.

Despite the existence of football or other sports playoffs (e.g., NFL playoffs) or tournaments such as the NCAA Basketball Tournament, most fantasy seasons are concluded well before the real-life playoffs. Thus, for several weeks of highly entertaining and competitive games and sporting events at the most important time of the sports season, very few fantasy games are played. Therefore, there exists a significant need for an improved fantasy game that is playable over the course of a predetermined time period such as that of playoffs (e.g., football playoffs) or during a tournament such as NCAA Basketball Tournament or the FIFA World Cup. Such a fantasy game may be applicable to any suitable event with a predetermined time period of games and not limited solely to football.

This application discloses a fantasy sports game device comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to provide a first list of available players to each individual user who selects a first fantasy lineup, where selections by another individual user does not preclude other individual users from also selecting the same player. First fantasy lineups are received from each individual user, the fantasy lineups comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players. Each individual user may provide a replacement lineup prior to the end of a game. A subsequent list of available players is provided to each user, not including players from the first fantasy lineup of the individual user. Subsequent fantasy lineups from each individual user are received comprising only players selected from the subsequent list of available players. None of the players of the first fantasy lineup for an individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user.

This application also discloses a fantasy sports game system comprising: one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on a network; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to provide a first list of available players to each user, where each user selects a first fantasy lineup, and selection of a player by a first user does not preclude a second user from also selecting the player. The system receives the first fantasy lineup for each user for a fantasy team from each user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players, and each user may bench a selected player of another user's fantasy team. The system provides a subsequent list of available players to each user, wherein the subsequent list of available players for an individual user does not include players from the received first fantasy lineup of the individual user. Subsequent fantasy lineups are received by the system for the fantasy team from each user, such fantasy lineups comprising one or more players selected from the subsequent list of available players, where none of the players of the first fantasy lineup for the individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user.

This application further discloses a fantasy sports game system comprising a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to provide a first list of available players to each user, where each user selects a first fantasy lineup, and selection of a player by a first user does not preclude a second user from also selecting the player. The system receives the first fantasy lineup for each user for a fantasy team from each user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players, and receives statistical information relating to each one of the players. A player point total is calculated for each player based at least in part on the received statistical information, such that each user failing to select a player necessary to complete a lineup for a round is assigned a point total of zero for such player. The system provides a subsequent list of available players to each user, which does not include players from the received first fantasy lineup of the individual user. The system receives a subsequent fantasy lineup for the fantasy team from each user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the subsequent list of available players. None of the players of the first fantasy lineup for the individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a fantasy sports network of a first embodiment of the fantasy football system disclosed herein; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for playing a fantasy football game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a fantasy sports game system 100 is depicted. The system 100 may include a server 110, a statistical information source 120, a communications network 130, and one or more participant terminals 140 a-140 n (collectively 140). The different elements and components of the system 100 may communicate with one another using wireless communications or hardwired connections, such as fiber optics, cable, DSL, telephone lines, and other similar connections.

The communications network 130 may include any number of networks capable of providing communications between the server 110, statistical information source 120, and terminals 140. For example, the communications network may be one or more, or any combination of, wireless networks, data or packet networks, publicly switched telephone networks (PSTN), etc.

The participant terminals 140 may include any suitable device operable to act as a client on a network. Illustrative terminals 140 include, but are not limited to, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, servers, or any suitable telecommunications device, including, but not limited to, VoIP telephones, smart telephones or wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA), communications enabled mp3 players, etc. Each terminal 140 may be configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from the server 110, the statistical information source 120 and/or other participant terminals 140.

The statistical information source 120 may be any suitable source of statistical information relevant to the fantasy game played. The statistical information source 120 may be a statistical repository maintained by a sports league, for example, the National Football League (NFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association, FIFA World Cup etc. Alternatively, the statistical information source 120 may be a third-party source, such as a news website STATS, Inc. headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., or any other suitable source of statistical information. In the illustrative embodiment, the statistical information source 120 includes statistical information related to one or more real-life athletes participating in one or more real-life games; however, it will be appreciated that the statistical information source 120 may include statistical information related to real-life and/or virtual athletes as well as any real-life and/or virtual athletic event.

The server 110 may be any server, computer or device configured to process commands from the participant terminals 140. For example, the server 110 may be operable to receive a starting lineup for one or more fantasy teams from one or more terminals 140. Each lineup may correspond to a particular fantasy team whereby each fantasy team competes with one or more other fantasy teams in a fantasy competition. The fantasy competition may be a fantasy league, a single fantasy game, a weekly fantasy contest, a fantasy tournament, or any other suitable fantasy sports competition. In one embodiment, a single fantasy team may be registered with a plurality of leagues whereby the team's performance is reflected in each league, thus allowing a user to participate in multiple leagues without requiring additional time or effort to choose new teams. For example, it is contemplated by the inventors that a user would be able to visit just one website, pick a team, pick the leagues it would like to join (where the leagues would all be played based on the method of play presented herein), and then simply click one button for that team to be played in the various leagues it has selected. This same concept would be available for each subsequent game or round. This would allow the user to easily participate in variety of leagues, where each league may be comprised of different individuals that may or not be directly related to the user, for example: office co-workers, family, friends, classmates, or different leagues of random individuals.

Each fantasy lineup may include one or more fantasy players associated therewith. Each player may be associated with a real-life athlete participating in a real-life athletic event, such as a football game. However, it will be appreciated that each player may be associated with real-life and/or virtual athletes as well as any real-life and/or virtual athletic event. In one embodiment, at least one fantasy player is associated with an athlete playing at least one position on an offensive squad of a football team. Suitable offensive squad positions may include, without limitation, one or more quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, split ends, fullbacks, tailbacks, and offensive linemen. Also, in one embodiment, at least one fantasy player is associated with a defensive and/or special teams squad of a football teams and/or an athlete playing at least one position on a defensive squad of a football team. Suitable defensive squad positions may include, without limitation, one or more safeties, cornerbacks, linebackers, defensive tackles, defensive ends, and defensive linemen.

The server 110 may also be configured to receive statistical information from the statistical information source 120, calculate player point totals therewith, and calculate a fantasy team score for each fantasy team. The server 110 may receive statistical information for each fantasy player from the statistical information source 120. The received statistical information may include, without limitation, yardage obtained by at least one of the fantasy players involved in at least one football game, touchdowns scored, etc. Suitable yardage may include, without limitation, passing yardage, rushing yardage, receiving yardage, special teams yardage, total team yardage and return yardage. Return yardage may include, without limitation, yardage obtained during a kick or punt return or yardage obtained by a defensive player after a turnover.

Once the server 110 has received the relevant statistical information from the statistical information source 120, the server 110 may calculate a player point total for each fantasy player based on the statistical information. In one embodiment, for each fantasy player, every 25 yards passing is assigned 1-point, every 10 yards rushing or receiving is assigned 1-point, and every touchdown is assigned 6-points. It will be appreciated that scoring systems employing passing yardage, rushing yardage, receiving yardage, touchdowns, turnovers, etc. are well known in the art and the present system is not limited to the forgoing illustrative scoring system. In addition, it will be appreciated that a bonus scoring system may be employed. In one embodiment, a bonus point system may be based on a formula and predetermined percentage allocation among predetermined strategic categories that may show managers to be especially keen at making smart decisions or selecting a quality fantasy lineup. For example, the formula may consistent of a weighted average of factors. Illustrative factors may include, without limitation: picking players from the team that loses (e.g., with a possibility of greater points for picking an upset according to suitable betting odds or any other suitable determination), actual accrued points by players, positional scoring (e.g., reward an unforeseen high scoring game from a position or player that does not general score a lot of points based on historical league position scores (e.g., if more than two standard deviations from average for the position or any other suitable determination)), boldness in player choice (e.g., choosing a player further down a depth chart of a given team and choosing said player early on in the playoffs or the like), etc. Also, an inverse of the forgoing may be applied whereby negative points may be accrued for poor decisions. It will be appreciated that any other suitable bonus point system may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, and without limitation, players being penalized during an event may receive negative points for such penalties, players against whom a penalty was committed may receive bonus points, players breaking pre-existing league records may receive bonus points, players scoring later into a playoff or later in the fantasy contest may receive bonus points for such scoring, etc. Additional bonus scoring systems will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are expressly contemplated herein and the present disclosure is in no way limited to the illustrative bonus scoring systems.

As will be discussed further below, the server may be configured to receive fantasy lineups for one or more fantasy teams, wherein each fantasy lineup includes one or more players. The fantasy lineup for each team will be changed at predetermined intervals (e.g., weekly) wherein players previously used are not eligible for re-use in a subsequent lineup. In one embodiment, a winner is declared at the end of each predetermined interval. In an alternative embodiment, the point totals for a plurality of pre-determined intervals are added together whereby team having the greatest point total is deemed the winner. By way of illustration and without any limitation, a fantasy game may be played over the course of an NFL playoff period whereby each fantasy team submits a new fantasy lineup for each round of the playoffs. Players used for any given round (e.g., wild-card round) are ineligible for use in any subsequent round (e.g., divisional round, conference championship, Super Bowl, etc.). The team having the most points at the end of the NFL playoffs may be deemed the winner. It will, however, be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited in any way to the NFL and/or the NFL playoffs and has applicability to playoffs or tournaments of other sports.

In one embodiment, the server 110 may permit a user to provide a replacement lineup comprising at least one replacement player after a lineup is received and prior to the receipt of statistical information. In one embodiment, one or more players from the lineup are replaced by one or more replacement players during a real-time sporting event upon which the collected statistics and fantasy points are based. In one embodiment, the statistics of the players from the original lineup are only considered for the purposes of determining a fantasy score up until a corresponding replacement player is received by the server and any statistics accrued by the original player after receipt of the replacement player may then be ignored when calculating a fantasy score. The statistics of the replacement player prior to receipt of the replacement player by the server may be ignored and only statistics obtained after receipt of the replacement player by the server considered for the purposes of calculating a score. For example, and without limitation, a user includes a first quarterback in a lineup. The user provides a replacement quarterback to the server after one quarter of play by the first quarterback. The replacement quarterback completes at least three quarters of a football game. In calculating a score, only the statistics corresponding to the one quarter of play by the first quarterback are considered. Likewise, only statistics corresponding to the three quarters of play by the replacement quarterback are considered in calculating a score, and any additional statistics by the replacement quarterback are ignored. It will be appreciated that the quarters of play (or any other suitable time demarcation) need not be running concurrently or consecutively. For example, the first quarterback may play the first quarter of the football game and the replacement quarterback may complete any three quarters for consideration (e.g., the first three quarters, the final three quarters, etc.). The choice of which time period(s) are considered for the replacement player may be predetermined in the game set-up or selected by a user. Also, the first quarterback may be competing in an earlier game and the replacement quarterback playing in a later football game (either later in the same day as the first game, a day after the first game, etc.). It will be appreciated that the forgoing is only illustrative in nature and any system permitting a user to change players during a real-time event is expressly considered. Further, the player from the original lineup as well as the replacement player may be ineligible for use in a subsequent lineup by the user.

In the illustrative embodiment, the server 110 includes a memory and a processor to accommodate the forgoing. However, it will be appreciated that the forgoing may be implemented in hardware, software, or a suitable combination of hardware and software, and which can be one or more software systems operating on a general purpose server platform. As used herein, a hardware system can include discrete semiconductor devices, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other suitable devices. A software system can include one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, user-readable (source) code, machine-readable (object) code, two or more lines of code in two or more corresponding software applications, databases, or other suitable software architectures. In one exemplary embodiment, a software system can include one or more lines of code in a general purpose software application, such as an operating system, and one or more lines of code in a specific purpose software application. Alternatively, the functions of the server may be performed by a human user acting as a fantasy commissioner for a fantasy contest, fantasy league, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a flowchart 200 of a method for playing a fantasy football game is shown. The method may be implemented by a server, wireless device, VoIP telephone, other advanced intelligence network device, or any combination thereof, generally referred to herein as the “device.” Alternatively, the method may be performed by a human user acting as a fantasy commissioner of a fantasy contest, fantasy league, etc. While the illustrative embodiment employs the game of football, it will be appreciated that this is for illustrative purposes only and that any suitable event may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

The method 200 begins with providing a list of football players available to each user (step 202) from which each user may construct a fantasy lineup. The list of players may include only players presently participating in the sport. For example, if the fantasy football game were played over the course of the NFL playoffs, only players on teams presently in the playoffs may be provided. While the illustrative embodiment provides a game played over the course of the NFL playoffs, it will be appreciated that the game may be played over any pre-determined period of time and remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

The fantasy lineups for each team may then be received (step 204) wherein each lineup comprises a plurality of players. In one embodiment, each lineup includes one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one flex position, one kicker, and one defense/special teams unit selected from the list of available players. The flex position may be selected from any other suitable position. For example, and without limitation, the flex may be an additional running back, wide receiver, or tight end. However, it will be appreciated that the flex position may be selected from any other position and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the lineup may be comprised with any suitable number of players selected from any suitable position(s) and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The device may also permit replacement players or replacement lineups as previously discussed.

Once the lineups have been received (step 204), statistical information relating to each one of the fantasy players is received or collected (step 205). The statistical information may be received or collected from a statistical repository of an athletic league or a third-party source of statistical information. The statistical information may be any suitable statistical information relevant to a fantasy game. Such statistical information may include, without limitation, passing yardage, rushing yardage, receiving yardage, touchdowns, safeties, sacks, turnovers, interceptions, fumbles, etc.

Once the statistical information is received (step 205), the score for the lineup may be calculated (step 206). In calculating the score (step 206), any suitable scoring system may be employed. In one illustrative scoring system, every 25 yards passing is assigned 1-point, every 10 yards rushing or receiving is assigned 1-point, every touchdown is assigned 6-points, etc. It will, however, be appreciated that the forgoing scoring system is illustrative only and that any suitable scoring system may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the point totals for each player are added together to calculate a fantasy team score for the given round or period (e.g., week). The score calculations (step 206) may also include bonus scoring as previously discussed.

In one embodiment, the device may consider further input from one or more users in calculating a score. For example, and without limitation, the device may permit a user to replace one player in the original lineup with a previously designated bench or replacement player, where points for player from the original lineup are replaced by the points for the bench or replacement player. As will be discussed further below, in one embodiment, the bench or replacement player may be unavailable for use in a subsequent lineup. In another example, a user may selectively “bench” a player from another user's lineup where the selected player does not accrue fantasy points for statistics obtained during predetermined amount of time in the real-time sporting event upon which the collected statistics and fantasy points are based. For example, and without limitation, a user may choose to “bench” the quarterback of another user's lineup for one-half of a real-time football game whereby the statistics accumulated by the quarterback are ignored in calculating the quarterback's fantasy point total. It will be appreciated that the forgoing further input examples are illustrative only and not limiting in any way. Any other further input for the purposes of calculating points is expressly considered herein. Further, it will be appreciated that the forgoing further inputs are optional and embodiments not employing such inputs are expressly considered herein.

Once the scores for a given round or period are calculated (step 206), the device may then determine if the game will include a subsequent round or period (step 208). If there will be a subsequent round or period, the device may remove any previously used player from the list of available players for each user (step 210). The device may then provide a list of players available to each user (step 202) and the previously described process repeated. Since each lineup is unique to each user, the players removed from the list of available players (and, consequently, any subsequent list of available players) may be unique to each user.

If the device determines there is no subsequent round (step 208), the score from each period or round (from step 206) may be summed for each user (step 212). A winner may be determined based on who has the highest point total at the end of the game (step 214).

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fantasy sports game device comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: provide a first list of available players to each individual user, wherein each individual user selects a first fantasy lineup, and wherein selection of a player by a first individual user does not preclude a second individual user from also selecting the same player; receive the first fantasy lineup for each individual user for a fantasy team from each individual user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players, provide a subsequent list of available players to each individual user at the end of a first predetermined interval, wherein the subsequent list of available players for an individual user does not include players from the received first fantasy lineup of the individual user; receive a subsequent fantasy lineup for the fantasy team from each individual user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the subsequent list of available players, wherein none of the players of the first fantasy lineup for the individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user; and determine a winner at the end of at least one of the first predetermined interval or a second predetermined interval, wherein a server sends winner information to a participant terminal.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined interval is weekly.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined interval is less than weekly.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined interval is weekly.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined interval is less than weekly.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the fantasy team score total includes a bonus point system.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the bonus point system is based on a weighted average of at least two bonus factors.
 8. A fantasy sports game device comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: provide a first list of available players to each user, wherein each user selects a first fantasy lineup, and wherein selection of a player by a first user does not preclude a second user from also selecting the player; receive the first fantasy lineup for each user for a fantasy team from each user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players; provide a subsequent list of available players to each user at the end of a predetermined interval, wherein the subsequent list of available players for an individual user does not include players from the received first fantasy lineup of the individual user; receive a subsequent fantasy lineup for the fantasy team from each user, the fantasy lineup comprising one or more players selected from the subsequent list of available players, wherein none of the players of the first fantasy lineup for the individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user; and determine a winner at the end of a plurality of predetermined intervals, wherein a server sends winner information to a participant terminal.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the predetermined interval is weekly.
 10. The device of claim 8 wherein the predetermined interval is less than weekly.
 11. The device of claim 8 wherein each user may register each of their fantasy lineups in multiple leagues. 